Page 74 of Our Now and Forever

“Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat,” Carrie said.

Snow’s left hand shook in Caleb’s warm grasp. He pulled something from his back pocket, never breaking eye contact.

“Snow Cameron,” he said, love clear in his eyes, “will you make me the luckiest man in the world and be my wife?”

She didn’t know how to respond. Though they were already married, Snow had never been proposed to before, especially not in front of an audience. Did she remind him that they were already hitched? Did she say yes and keep up the act? Did it really matter if everyone knew the truth?

No. No it didn’t.

“Yes,” Snow said, the tears falling freely. “Yes-yes-yes!”

Chapter 24

Black Friday wasn’t limited to big cities. No sales calls could be conducted the day after Thanksgiving with most businesses opening early, keeping their doors open late, and dealing with three times their usual volume, freeing Caleb up to help out at Snow’s shop. Which was good, since this was an all-hands-on-deck situation.

“Excuse me, young man,” said a frail voice from his left. “Could you come get something down for me?”

“Of course,” Caleb said. He’d been helping little old ladies all day. On several occasions, the women could have reached whatever bit or bauble they wanted to see, but he never called them on it. Lorelei found this endlessly entertaining, claiming they all wanted to talk to the pretty man.

Caleb had ignored her until a particularly feisty customer waited until his arm was above his head to pinch his ass.

This new one looked tame enough, with her cane and grandmotherly smile. She led him to a display near the back and pointed to a blue vase he was sure had been a shelf lower the last time he saw it. “Here you go,” Caleb said, keeping a grip on the heavy piece so the woman could examine it.

“That’s nice,” she said, touching his arm instead of the merchandise. “You’re such a sweet boy to help me with this.”

If she wanted the vase, she gave no indication.

“Should I set it behind the counter while you look around?” he asked, following Snow’s instructions to encourage as much browsing as possible.

“Nah,” she said, waving the suggestion away with one gnarled hand. “But maybe you should stay with me in case I see something else.”

“Happy to,” he said, searching for Snow in the crowd. At least all the older ladies were short, meaning he could pretty much see over everyone. But before he could spot her, Snow came up behind him.

“Hello, Mrs. Leibowitz. How are you today?” she asked the customer.

“I was having this nice young man help me do some shopping,” the older woman said, holding tight to Caleb’s wrist. “My grandson is in here somewhere, but that boy is useless.”

Caleb gave Snow a pleading look, but she’d already planned to rescue him. “Yes, my fiancé is very nice,” she said, putting emphasis on the fiancé part. “But I’m afraid I need his assistance with something else right now.” She waved to someone to their right, saying, “And here’s Jacob now.” A guy who looked slightly younger than Caleb joined them.

“I’ve been looking all over for you,” Jacob said. Noticing the vase in Caleb’s hand, he added, “You looked at that vase a little while ago and had me put it back on the top shelf. Why didn’t you tell me you wanted it then?”

If Lorelei learned about this one, Caleb would never hear the end of it.

“I’m old,” Mrs. Leibowitz said. “I’m entitled to change my mind.”

“You certainly are,” Snow said, her voice never losing its helpful tone. “You and Jacob keep looking around until you find something you absolutely love. And don’t forget, nearly every item in the store is on sale for fifty percent off, with everything along the back wall discounted even more.”

The older woman walked away with a grumble, leaving her grandson to trail behind.

“Why do I feel like I should have a price tag on my forehead?” Caleb asked.

Snow laughed. “You might as well put it a little lower, since that’s where you’re getting the most attention.” He tugged on a curl in retaliation, and she added, “I really do need you. Mrs. Handleman bought the dresser-turned-vanity for her B&B, and her husband needs your help to get it in his truck.”

“I can do that.” In truth, Caleb was happy to finally be useful. “Is he taking it out the front door?”

“I’ve asked him to pull around to the alley so we can load it out the back. Less shuffling of customers that way.”

After planting a hard kiss on her mouth, Caleb said, “I’m on it,” and charged off toward the back room, taking care not to cross Mrs. Leibowitz’s path.

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